Jaipur: Notwithstanding the economic recession, the stone industry at global level is growing and strengthening its business in 79 countries, including India, industry body Ficci Secretary General Amit Mitra said today.

Special: Trends 2009

International participation in stone industry was overwhelming as China, Turkey and Iran have shown greater interest in natural and synthetic stones, Mitra said at the inaugural session of the Stonemart-2009.

Ficci and Centre for Development of Stones would offer their full support on work of "global connectivity" in the trade of stone, and deepening of access to global market, Mitra said.

Pointing out challenges before the stone industry, Mitra said the challenges are that the industry should have a global benchmarking in stone sector, upgradation of technology, exploring new varieties of stones, their colour and textures, and value added export of stones.

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"Why India is providing raw stones to foreign buyers...India should incorporate value addition to earn profit more," he opined.

Besides, Mitra suggested that stone sector be taken up as an academic subject in ITIs, Diploma courses and in Engineering so that skilled manpower be created.

Inaugurating the stonemart, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said it was he, who initiated the first stonemart in 2000, and business was tremendously growing in scores of countries.

The turnover of stone industry of the state was worth Rs 4,000 crores and approximately five lakh people were directly employed in it, Gehlot said.

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CDOS Chief Executive Officer R K Gupta said participation of foreign business organisations would help adding new dimensions and exploitations of stone. Rajasthan has 65 per cent share in stones produced in India, Gupta said.